Electroluminescent sign conversion kit

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a conversion kit whereby building or plant signs illuminated by incandescent bulbs or fluorescent tubes may be converted to electroluminescent illumination. The kit includes an electroluminescent panel and an opaque sign mask, The opaque sign mask is adapted to overlie the electroluminescent panel and the sign indicia of the mask are in the nature of stencil like cutouts to allow the light emitted by the underlying electroluminescent panel to pass only through the indicia cutouts.

I claim: 
     
       1. A conversion kit for converting a sign fixture originally illuminated by incandescent bulb or fluorescent tube to electroluminescent lighting, said kit comprising: (a) an electroluminescent panel having a light emitting surface;   (b) means for placing said electroluminescent panel into electrical communication with an AC line current power cord supplied to said sign fixture; and   (c) a generally flat and thin opaque sign mask constructed of a stiff, flexible sheet material and having adjacent a perimeter thereof a plurality of spaced apart and parallel sign mask breakaway lines such that edge strips of said opaque sign mask may be broken away to adapt fitting of said opaque sign mask to said sign fixture, said opaque sign mask being adapted for receiving sign indicia in the nature of one or more stencil like cutouts therethrough prior to installation of said opaque sign mask to said sign fixture, said opaque sign mask, bearing said sign indicia, being disposable over said light emitting surface of said electroluminescent panel such that only light emitted by said light emitting surface underlying said cutouts may pass through said opaque sign mask.   
     
     
       2. The conversion kit of claim 1, including a generally flat and thin light transmissive panel constructed of a stiff, flexible sheet material for placement adjacent said opaque sign mask, said light transmissive panel having adjacent a perimeter thereof a plurality of spaced apart and parallel light transmissive panel breakaway lines such that edge strips of said light transmissive panel may be broken away, said light transmissive panel breakaway lines in substantial register with said sign mask breakaway lines. 
     
     
       3. The conversion kit of claim 2 wherein said light transmissive panel is interposed between said electroluminescent panel and said opaque sign mask. 
     
     
       4. The conversion kit of claim 2 wherein said plurality of spaced apart and parallel light transmissive panel breakaway lines comprises three parallel light transmissive panel breakaway lines mutually spaced apart generally by 0.25 inches. 
     
     
       5. The conversion kit of claim 2 wherein said light transmissive panel is composed of a sheet plastic material having a thickness of between 0.010 and 0.035 inch. 
     
     
       6. The conversion kit of claim 5 wherein said sheet plastic material is composed of polycarbonate resin. 
     
     
       7. The conversion kit of claim 2 wherein said sheet plastic material is optically clear. 
     
     
       8. The conversion kit of claim 2 wherein at least one edge of the light emitting surface of said electroluminescent panel has adjacent thereto a pressure sensitive adhesive strip adapted to adhere said electroluminescent panel to one of said opaque sign mask and said light transmissive panel. 
     
     
       9. The conversion kit of claim 1 wherein said opaque sign mask is of black coloration. 
     
     
       10. The conversion kit of claim 1 wherein said opaque sign mask comprises diecut indicia therethrough. 
     
     
       11. The conversion kit of claim 10 wherein said diecut indicia are EXIT. 
     
     
       12. The conversion kit of claim 1 wherein said opaque sign mask is composed of a stiff, flexible sheet plastic material having a thickness of between 0.010 and 0.035 inch. 
     
     
       13. The conversion kit of claim 1 wherein said plurality of spaced apart and parallel sign mask breakaway lines comprises three parallel sign mask breakaway lines mutually spaced apart generally by 0.25 inches. 
     
     
       14. The conversion kit of claim 1 wherein said means for electrical communication of said electroluminescent panel with said AC house line current power supply source comprises a twin conductor cable in electrical communication with said electroluminescent panel, a first connector element in electrical communication with said cable and a second connector element cooperative with said first connector element, said second connector element being adapted for electrical communication with said AC line current power cord. 
     
     
       15. The conversion kit of claim 1 wherein at least one edge of the light emitting surface of said electroluminescent panel comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive strip adapted to adhere said panel to said opaque sign mask. 
     
     
       16. The conversion kit of claim 1 wherein said light emitting surface comprises green phosphors.